Kentucky Derby Memories

Ask anyone who knows me, and they will say that the first Saturday in May is my favorite day of the year. I look forward to the event all year long and feel like a little kid on Christmas Eve, as the days of late April go by. It is a holiday to me full of tradition, history, love and excitement. It is a time that I gather with friends and family to celebrate the most exciting two minutes in all of sports. This year my excitement is already out of control as we are being treated to an amazing field.

Some of my fondest childhood memories revolve around the Kentucky Derby. For as long as I can remember, tears would swell my eyes as soon as “My Old Kentucky Home” began to play. I am not ashamed to admit that it is a feeling that still overtakes me to this day. Over the years, I have been treated to some special Derby races. I love to re-watch them as the Derby draws closer. The emotions of those days come flooding back with the every clip I watch. It is hard to pick just one as my all-time favorite, as each is thrilling and special in its own regard, but today I want to go back 18 years and celebrate Silver Charm’s performance in the 1997 Kentucky Derby.

I was only 11 at the time and my Dad was very ill. He had been fighting cancer and we feared the end was near, but if you ever met him, you knew he was not going anywhere until after the Run for the Roses. I was surrounded by many aunts, uncles and cousins that day. We gathered to watch the television coverage since Dad was too ill to attend.

Captain Bodgit would go off as the favorite, but right behind him were the talented Silver Charm, Pulpit, Free House and Crypto Star. Dad was always wary of a horse with any type of gray coat but some reason he was all for Silver Charm that day. His inkling would soon be validated as Silver Charm broke just behind the leaders and never looked back. Heading into the turn for home, we were treated to a mesmerizing battle of champions between Bodgit and Silver Charm. I can still hear the cheers and yelling to this day. For those 2 minutes, I saw my Dad act like the healthiest and happiest man on the planet. This race was our refuge from reality. The official results would show Charm by a head, but it sure appeared closer than that. It was a finish I will never forget.

We would lose Dad prior to Charm’s follow up victory in the Preakness, but his spirit continues to be a part of my Derby Day even now. For me, the Kentucky Derby is so much more than a race. It is a celebration of the past, present and future! Over the next week or so, I will celebrate the first two and try like heck to figure out the last one! What a field! J